hiya!

[wile_E]

Hi guys & gals. I've just signed up to this forum, after stumbling across it on my trawl through the internet on topics surrounding the D70. I'm not currently an owner, however plan to be one soon (I'm trying to keep my options open between the D70 and the potential D100 replacement). Any thoughts from you guys on that?

Anyways, just thought I'd say "hi", so that I'm no longer a lurker...


ps: Excellent site. Kudos to the developers and forum managers.

[Greg B]

Welcome wile_E

You might find a bit of a bias towards the D70 here at D70Users

However, some of our members have several Nikons including the more professional level dslrs.

Anyway, have fun.

[MHD]

Welcome... Lots of info here... and if you ask the right people some great deals too...

[gstark]

Welcome, Wile_E,

A couple of questions - how long are you willing to wait before you make your purchase? My expectation for the D100 replacement would be for an announcement in late Jan or early Feb 2005, with a post PMA release.

Note too that the D2x was announced 2 months ago, during Photokina, but (a) hasn't yet hit the streets, and (b) already has a waiting list longer than the time it takes to focus in low light on a CP5700.

What features would you expect to see on the D100 replacement that the D70 doesn't have? My guess on those features, ftr, would be MLU, vertical grip, metal casing, 5fps, and the 12MP sensor that's going into the D2x.

The two questions that emerge from the feature list are, firstly, how much are you willing to pay for those features, and how much use of those features do you expect to make.

Weigh up those answers against the current good value represented by the D70, and see which way your head turns.

I'm not suggesting one way or the other, but it can be a fun process making the decision.

[MHD]

judging how long the d2x is taking to hit the streets I doubt anything will be down under to replace the d100 (and rival the d70) until july 05...

[Glen]

Wile E, I am with Gary. Buy a grey D70 and make it the 2nd body later when the D100 replacement plateaus in price. The first 6 months it will be at full price. A grey D70 could even be resold for a couple of hundred bucks loss at most within a year.

[sirhc55]

Welcome wile_E

Always remember - by waiting for something that has not happened can often be a long and lonely wait - go with the D70 and you will have many months of joyfull photography under your belt IMO

Cheers

Chris

[Onyx]

Hi Wile_E, I love your avatar. I'm a fan of the Roadrunner cartoons.

You'll be hanging out with us a good six months not having a camera should you decide to wait for the D100 replacement before you buy into the market.

[birddog114]

Welcome wile_E

It's time to get the D70, your waiting time for the replacement of D100 is not realistic.
I've been waiting for my D2x now since Sept. (My name's first on the waiting list at Mr. Poon shop) but he said I won't be able to see it till May or June 05. BTW, he's sourcing for me the 200-400VR as my Xmas present and we can call it as " director bonuses"
Now we all VR group users aren't we?

[MHD]

200-400VR
nice toy..

That will keep the lens lust at bay for a little while!

[birddog114]

200-400VR
nice toy..

That will keep the lens lust at bay for a little while!

MHD,
Yes it's but then 300/ 2.8 VR is not far away, can't help!

[fozzie]

Birddog,

With all the goodies you have received from HKsupplies, RRS and Acratech in recent weeks, and what's on order to come for Xmas: 200-400mm VR (Director's Bonus) can I join the Board of Directors, you will need to build another room on at the house to store everything. Taking nothing away from you, you work hard, and deserve everything that comes your way.


Have a good day,

[MHD]

hehe...

I've seen pics of that 200-400... Its a monster!

I will be interested to hear what you think of it... I dont hear much said about it (well much less than the 80-400 and the 70-200)

[birddog114]

hehe...

I've seen pics of that 200-400... Its a monster!

I will be interested to hear what you think of it... I dont hear much said about it (well much less than the 80-400 and the 70-200)

Yes, you're right! cos it's out of range and limit of many people, and stock is not healthy from Nikon. I've been waiting for it such long.

[Onyx]

The 200-400 is supposedly THE lens for birders and long range work. Wildlifers have said it compares extremely favourably with primes of its range, and with TC's stacked on it's still tack sharp. For the cost of a new Korean crapbox car, it oughta be superb!!

[birddog114]

And more costing to blend in as Wimberly Cobra head, Good tripod, therefore not so many people around like to invest more than 10G to have and use it.
Hey, no one can't take money with them to the grave
And if you save it for the wills, then you don't know who will be fighting with who once you're in the cheap wooden box

[MHD]

When picking a tripod and head I used the 200-400 as the best lens I would ever likely own... (or if I could afford better the price of a new 'pod and head would not matter!) to set the minimum limits on the loads...



Serious lust territory... (not PhD territory!)

[Glen]

Birddog, you deserve that lens and I hope you get it soon.

MHD, I think that is a great idea for a maximum capacity, and I can be sure I will never get to own one. Can't see me spending the price of a hyundai on a lens (or that much for a hyundai!). Maybe I will just cut a metre long piece of 6x4 hardwood to test tripods and place a thread in the bottom. Would you like me to cut you a length?

[MHD]

yes... the 200-400 is a limit (which means not nescasarily obtainable) Thats why I picked it...
Lousie said: "Ok get a tripod, but make sure this one will last!"

So I did (now where's my bloody L plate )

[wile_E]

Thanks for your welcome and advice guys!

Am asking a few people on prices for the 70, and would like to have one in my hand to play around abit before I commit.

*yes, I'm a commitment phobe - why do you ask?!*



And about spending as much as a car on a lens...??

Wow - you guys REALLY have been bitten by the lens bug!

Hope you're all having a great day.

[MHD]

If you want to commit its easy...

Go to your friendly camera store... ask for a hold and a shoot with the d70... As soon as you pick it up and start playing all your commitment worries will be over!

[birddog114]

Serious lust territory... (not PhD territory!)

MHD,
Surely I like it

[Glen]

Wile E, you have probably worked out where I buy my gear (one lens today, one last week) but I would say go to a store and have a play, then PM Birddog for grey and Maxwells price. I doubt you will do better.

[gstark]

Wile_E,

Am asking a few people on prices for the 70, and would like to have one in my hand to play around abit before I commit.
...

Hope you're all having a great day.

Definitely take a few minutes to wander into a camera store and have a play with one. If the store isn't willing to let you have a play,either ask to speak to the manager, or just walk out. You're talking about a $2K pruchase possibility; the least they can do is let you have a play with a body + lens.

Do you have any CF cards lying around at home? If so, take one with you, and snap a few shots onto your card. Take your card back home, and examine the images on your PC. That will begin to give you a feel for what the camera can do. I did exactly that; remind me to post a couple of those images here ...

As to havin a great day ? My 80-400 arrived a half hour ago.

[Onyx]

Wile_E - you should pick up a Kwanon 300D before the Nikon D70. Only then will you appreciate just now much better the D70 is.

Don't be afraid to persuade the camera shop guys to accompany you outside for a few test shoots. Indoors and dimly lit with artificial lights will hardly impress you.

[kipper]

For that price you'd expect it to cook dinner and perform sexual favours

[phillipb]

No Kipper, what you're describing is called a wife, trust me, they're much more expensive then that.

[Glen]

Kipper, I can tell you are not married! Wives cost more than that and mine doesn't even cook!! That is more like the monthly rental for a wife

You can see why I dont own that lens, only a single man or a wealthy man owns that lens

[phillipb]

Glen, you're lucky, you can always get KFC

[gstark]

Kipper, I can tell you are not married! Wives cost more than that and mine doesn't even cook!! That is more like the monthly rental for a wife

I didn't see any wives loan list though ...

[Glen]

[wile_E]

 ROFLOL

You guys crack me up...!

[Nicole]

Well I have to say I'm the wife and my husband cringes every time I mention the word lens...somehow I managed to convince him the 80-400VR was worth it.

Gary, can't wait to see some pics. Hopefully mine will get here on Friday so I can play on the weekend.

Birddog. I am sooo jealous. You deserve it though! Ultimate lens for me is 200-400 VR.

[mudder]

G'day Wile_E,
I too was waiting to see what was "around the corner" in the digital SLR world, but once I had a play with a D70 that was it... And I haven't looked back... There'll always be something coming out "real soon now" but you'll miss out on a lot of fun in the meantime...

Go for it... You'll enjoy it!

And welcome to the forum, there's some very knowledgeable guys and girls on this forum who are only to pleased to help...

Cheers,
Mudder

[JordanP]

Hi Wile_E,

Don't know if this will help but I had a slightly different approach to buying my camera.

To me the camera is limited by the glass you attach to it. As such when buying a camera body I look for the cheapest camera I can get that has all the features and performance that I require - that way I have more money left over for lenses.... rather than being upsold for features I dearly would love, but don't really need at this stage.

Before buying the D70 I was trying to choose between the D100, the D70 and the D2h. The D70 outclassed the D100 for features that I require so the D100 was quickly eliminated. The D2h is a very nice looking camera and has many features the D70 doesn't. I could buy 2 D70 bodies for the price of a D2h and it's features (although very sexy) weren't essential.

I had a pretty good budget so I could buy a D2h and still have enough left for one extravegant lens. but... if I bought the D70 I had enough for 3 high quality lenses.

Hope to make enough money in the next 1 or 2 years and then I may well grab the D100 replacement or the D2x ..... the D70 will be back up and I will already have some good quality glass.

A little up-side-down approach - but I must say the D70 is a brilliant camera body and for its price you can't go past it IMHO. From what I've seen lately you can pick up a D70 with kit lens and other goodies for under 2K and thats alot less than I would be prepared to pay for it.

Cheers,